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Course Syllabus

1. Course number 2202231

2. Course credits2 credits

3. Course titlePopular English Fiction

4. Faculty/ DepartmentFaculty of Arts/ Department of English

5. Semester First

6. Academic Year 2006(a)

7. Academic StaffAssistant Professor Rongrat Dusdeesurapot

Ajarn Subenja Phaolaungthong

8. Condition-

9. Course statusElective

10.CurriculumBachelor of Arts

11. LevelUndergraduate level

12. Number of hours/week3 hours

Midterm exam date : AR

Final exam date : September 27, 2006 (27A3)

13. Course Description Reading, analysis and discussion of selected popular English fiction

14. Course Outline

14.1 Learning objectives

This course is designed for non-English majors who wish to read and appreciate fiction written in English. It is intended:

  1. to introduce students to the major elements of fiction
  2. to familiarize students with approaches to literary texts
  3. to give students exposure to different genres of popular fiction
  4. to sharpen students’ awareness of cultures and genres in fiction
  5. to develop students’ language skills as well as analytical and critical abilities.
  6. Learning Contents

WEEK 1Introduction to Fiction

Plot and setting

Narrators and points of view

Characters and characterization

Structure of narrative

Theme

WEEK 2Popular Fiction/ Genre Fiction

Exploring different genres of novels

Crime: Detective Story

Characteristics of the genre

Reading and discussion of excerpts from The Da Vinci Code

Reading and discussion of excerpts from The Hound of the Baskervilles

WEEK 3Romance

Characteristics of the genre and subgenres

Social, historical and political background

Reading texts and subtexts

WEEK 4Reading and discussion of Bridget Jones’s Diary / Pride and Prejudice

WEEK 5Horror/ Gothic Romance

Reading and discussion of “The Bloody Chamber”

Fairy-tales, myths, and intertextuality

“Bluebeard,” Pandora, Cupid and Psyche

WEEK 6Bildungs Roman

Reading and discussion of Great Expectations

Children’s Literature

Characteristics of the genre and subgenres

Social background

Psychological approach to fiction

WEEK 7Reading and discussion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Reading and discussion of Harry Potter

WEEK 8

JULY 26 (2)MIDTERM EXAM

Fantasy/ Science Fiction: Dystopia/ Utopia

Characteristics of the genre and subgenres

WEEK 9Reading and discussion of Never Let Me Go

WEEK 10Western

Characteristics of the genre and subgenres

Reading and discussion of “BrokebackMountain”

WEEK 11-12 Film adaptations of novels

Reading and discussion of The Hours and The Joy Luck Club

WEEK 13The Color Purple

Introduction: background of the novel

WEEK 14Discussion of elements of the novel

WEEK 15-16Students’ oral presentation

14.3 Method

  • Lecture and discussion40%
  • (Lectures on elements of fiction based on handouts are given at the beginning of the semester. Students are assigned to read, outside class, excerpts from novels and one novel. All students must be prepared to participate in classroom activities and to give answers in writing to study questions already in the handouts.)
  • Brainstorming and discussion of case study so that students learn to analyze and solve problems 30%
  • Making a summary of the main points or presentation of the results of researching or the assigned tasks 30%

14.4 Media

  • Transparencies
  • Videotapes/ DVD
  • Electronics and website media: See Course Blackboard
  • E-learning: BlackboardSee Course Blackboard

14.5Assignment through Network System

14.5.1Assigning and Submitting Method: Blackboard

14.5.2Learning Management System: Blackboard

14.6Evaluation

14.6.1 Assessment of academic knowledge70%

(Midterm exam 30%

Final exam 40%)

14.6.2 Assessment of assigned tasks15%

14.6.3 Attendance and participation7.5%

14.6.4 Group paper 7.5%

Final grades will be computed in accordance with both normed and criterion-referenced methods.

15. Reading List

15.1 Required Texts:

handouts on elements of fiction

excerpts from selected novels and

short stories

The Color Purple

15.2 Supplementary Texts:

Arp, Thomas R. and Greg Johnson. Perrine’s Story and Structure. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.

Ashley, Bob. The Study of Popular Fiction: A Source Book. London: Pinter, 1989.

Clayton, John. J. Introduction to Fiction. Boston:Houghton Mifflin, 2000.

Longhurst, Derek. Reading Popular Fiction I: Gender, Genre and Narrative Pleasure.London: Unwin Hyman, 1989.

Montgomery, Martin and Alan Durant, et al. Ways of Reading: Advanced Reading Skills for Students of English Literature. London: Routledge, 1992.

Morrison, Jago. Contemporary Fiction. London: Routledge, 2003.

15.3 Research Articles/Academic Articles: To be announced in class/on Blackboard

15.4 Electronic Media or Websites: To be announced in class/on Blackboard

  1. Teacher Evaluation
  2. Lecture and discussion form

16.2Changes made in accordance with the previous evaluation

Adjustments in content and teaching media

16.3Discussion and analysis which create intellect and academic knowledge, skills and professional knowledge, ethics, and social responsibilities

Reading and discussion of popular English fiction and cultural studies. Discussion of social issues reflected in the selected literary works.